Merrymopes milkshake and ice cream parlour rests quietly in the evening light. We’re preparing to start night duties on the track of Neve Blin, the reason we’re here instead of Pat’s Caff — the usual meeting point for Night Rangers. Noah’s got himself embroiled in another bet, throwing more Kyals at the likely hiding place of Neve Blin.
Rumour has it the Ex Domitus is holed up in The Royisin Heights, blending into the underground world there with the help of a disfigurement charm. Conrad isn’t arguing that Neve isn’t there; his bet is that she won’t be when we finally catch up with her.
I don’t care either way and, thankfully, neither does Lucy, rolling her eyes at me as Noah and Conrad argue on the stake they’re willing to bet, deciding on arm wrestling contest to decide. It looks like we’re in for a long night.
We don’t usually meet up here but I suggested it, thinking it might give Lucy and Noah more time to talk Conrad says I need to tread carefully, suggesting if I force things between them it could break up our Night Ranger crew. Treading carefully isn’t my forte so I see this as a perfect opportunity to improve.
The Merrymope twins who run the place are parked away on the upper floors of a building as colourful as its owners — red and white running along the walls and furniture. Like Pat’s Caff, Merrymopes has normal hours and Night Ranger hours: a welcome dose of tranquillity for the exhausted society soldier.
The four of us sit in the private booth sectioned off from the main customer area, out of the sight of prying eyes. Now, it’s just a case of passing the time before duty calls, taking us to The Royisin Heights.
With the arm wrestling in full swing, I study my Follygrin, hoping to catch sight of Neve Blin, but she’s mastered whatever disguise she’s using. Closing the Follygrin, I ask Lucy how things are in The Leverin — the faculty she and Noah are based in — getting friendly but brief answers.
Lucy’s been unusually quiet recently, probably due to her hidden feelings for Noah. Not as hidden as they once were after Zoe Tallis brought the first tinges of jealously to the fore. Lucy’s pretty and funny but a bit of a mystery in the romantic realm of things. I wasn’t sure she even liked boys until Noah finally got a date with Zoe Tallis.
We don’t talk about ‘the date’ although that hasn’t stopped us hanging out in Rebel’s Rest which opens until the early hours. Noah ignores Zoe when we’re there and the four of us avoid the topic altogether. There’s always something shady going to keep us occupied, meaning it doesn’t get awkward between Noah and Zoe.
With a pause in the boys’ arm wrestling, conversation returns to their bet
“You’ll be out of Kyals soon, the way you’re going on,” Conrad comments, finally winning the arm wrestle.
“Getting cold feet?” Noah prompts, spinning his Vaspyl in his hand.
The Vaspyl transforms from a small, silver horse to a candle for our table: a nice touch improved by Lucy’s utterance of ‘Flori’, adding flowers to the table.
“A romantic dinner for four,” Noah jokes, drawing laughter from us all.
Conrad sits alongside me in the leather booth, his right hand rubbing my lower back — a simple touch of intimacy that I appreciate. He’s attentive and handsome and very much my boy.
“So,” he says to Noah “you’re betting we definitely find Neve in The Royisin Heights?” Conrad asks again, concerned Noah’s getting hooked on betting on every eventuality.
“Yep. Where else is she going to go?”
“Anywhere she can hide,” Lucy counters, tapping her feet on the red-and-white striped floor.
“Then place your bets,” Noah encourages, brushing his floppy fringe away from his eyes.
“I can’t take any more money off you; it’s embarrassing,” Lucy teases.
“I’ll take the bet,” Conrad agrees, “but only if you don’t sulk when I win.”
“Deal,” Noah says with a smile, offering a handshake before he locks Conrad in another arm wrestle, the friends adding a touch of magic with the flight charm as the flowers wrap around their hands, lifting them off their feet.
Lucy rolls her eyes, trying to hide that fact her attention’s on Noah. He’s clearly the boy she wants and with Zoe Tallis is out of picture, she might just get her chance. I’m still thinking about how I should broach the subject of Noah with her, but Conrad’s warned me against it, reminding me that Noah’s one of his best friends and won’t thank me for it.
I say it’s worth a try, knowing how much better Night Ranging is when romance is added to the mix. I study Lucy out of the corner of my eye, watching as she adjusts the flower clip in her cropped, black hair: a pretty, pixie girl on a mission to capture more than malevs and Melackin.
She laughs at the sight of Conrad and Noah spinning in mid-air together, holding hands as if they’re perfecting a dance … an arm wrestle turning into a comedy act. Neve Blin returns to my thoughts as the morning moon rests above Society Square.
My money’s on her staying put in The Royisin Heights, probably regretting her choice of tempting us into a duel. Friendly duels are okay but our little fire fight in Drandok wasn’t of the friendly kind. No doubt, Neve will have something else up her sleeve when we finally track her down. I’ll have my own surprise ready — a little reminder of why I’m called The Fire Witch.
With Conrad and Noah over their mid-air wrestling match, we prepare to leave Merrymopes for The Royisin Heights. No door is needed to make this journey this morning, Merrymopes offering its own unique Perium to all Society realms. I place my penchant bracelet on the brass edge of the booth we’re sitting in, listening to the bell ringing on the counter.
It rings of its own accord again,
